Puberty and Menopause Flashcards
What is puberty?
Process of reproductive and sexual development and maturation that which changes a child into an adult
At what age does Puberty start?
Begins between ages 8 to 13
What two physiological processes influence puberty?
Gonadarche and Adrenarche
What activates GnRH?
Describe Gonadarche
Activation of the gonads by the pituitary gland hormones( follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormone
At what age do secretions for GnRH start? And to what frequency are the secreted?
From the age of 8 to 9, GnRH is secreted in pulsations of increasing amplitude and frequency
Explain the process of Adrenarche?
Zona reticularis of the adrenal glands begins to secrete dehydroepindrosterone (DHEA) and androsterone
Results in androgenic changes i.e growth of pubic and axillary hairs, maturation of apocrine sweat glands
When does adrenarche begin?
About years before true puberty.
Describe the sequence of pubertal maturation?
Growth Spurt
Thelarche
Pubarche
Peak Growth Velocity
Menarche
What is Thelarche and when does it first occur? What causes it?
-Breast development due to action of estradiol
-2-3 years before menarche
What is Pubarche and when does it occur and what is it dependent on?
-Appearance of first pubic hair and axillary hair
-Usually after thelarche and dependent on adrenal androgens
What is Pubarche usually associated with?
-Development of acne and apocrine body odor
What is and causes the growth Spurt?
- Accelerated increase in height
-Due to the effect of growth hormones and estrogen
When does the growth Spurt usually occur?
How does it differ between girls and boys?
-Begins around 11years and mostly ceases by 15years
-Earlier in girls than in boys
What is key feature of the first menstrual bleeding?
The first menstrual bleeding is most of the times not influenced by ovulation but rather the effects of estrogen on the endometrial lining. May take over 2-3 years before the menstrual cycle establishes a regular pattern due to immaturity of the HPG axis. Initial cycles are anovulatory and can be unpredictable and irregular
Describe Tanner’s Staging of breast and pubic hair development?
REFER TO HANDOUT
What factors influence the onset of puberty?(5)
Genetics
Race
Body weight
Social environment
Overall health
What issues arise with puberty?
Psychological issues like depression
Anemia
Acne
Gynecological conditions
Musculoskeletal injuries
Sexually transmitted infections
What are the two categories of puberty?
1.Precocious
2.Delayed
What are the two types of precocious Puberty?
1.Central-Gonadotropin dependent
Aetiology is unknown but 25% due to CNS malformation or brain tumours
2.Peripheral -gonadotropin independent
Caused by oestrogen secretion such as exogenous ingestion or a hormone-producing tumour
What are the causes of central precocious puberty? And what is the most common cause?
most common cause is idiopathic
CNS lesions (gliomas, craniopharyngiomas)
Genetics
Pituitary gonadotropin-secreting tumors
CNS infections (meningitis)
Head trauma
CNS anomaly (hydrocephalus)
Iatrogenic (radiation, chemotherapy)
What is the typical presentation of someone with central precocious puberty? And why?
-Taller than peers during adolescence but shorter by adulthood
Due to early epiphyseal closure